WILD FLOWERS white and greenish 



petals are veined or hair-lined with purple. The 

 matured flower measures from one-quarter to one-half 

 inch broad, and is borne singly on short, slender 

 stems that really seem a little stout for so small a blos- 

 som. Though often found growing five or six inches 

 high, the plant averages nearer two inches. The thin 

 textured, smooth surfaced, yellow-green leaves are 

 round heart-shaped with finely toothed margins. The 

 plant is stemless, that is, it has no main stalk, and 

 the leaf and flower stems spring directly from a very 

 slender rootstock. As the season advances, the plant 

 sends out slender stolens or runners bearing a few petal- 

 less flowers that never open. It is found from New- 

 foundland and New Brunswick to Georgia and Louisi- 

 ana, and in California. 



The Lance-leaved Violet, V. lanceolata, is a more 

 slender and somewhat taller species, having striking 

 long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves which gradually 

 taper into a long, slender stem, or petiole, and which 

 is a distinct, and ready means of identification. The 

 margins are finely toothed or scalloped, the texture is 

 thin, and the colour yellowish green. The white-petaled 

 flowers are slightly fragrant, and if anything, they are 

 a trifle larger than the preceding species, and like those, 

 their lower petals are marked with purple lines. They 

 are usually beardless and have a short spur. Late in 

 summer they send out many stolens that take root at 

 short intervals and bear apetalous flowers which never 

 open, and in fact, are seldom observed because they are 

 inconspicuous and are obscured by the leaves. This 



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